Top Rated Antidepressants of 2018 – Do they Really Work?

Joan Raynor

Life throws you curve balls, and often, these trials take their toll on you. You can’t eat, sleep, smile or even normally function. You just want to be alone and one by one, you see things in a negative light. Things turn darker. It could be depression. What should you do? It may be time for you to admit that you need help.

People are in constant search of help, especially when it comes to coping with anxiety. The different brands of antidepressants give you components that help your body adjust to the drastic changes you’re going through. While there is a variety of products to choose from, you deserve the ones that have been proven to work.

Before you get the first brand, you find, know what the best sellers are. Let’s get into these later, but before you learn more about these medicines, you should also know more about how these medicines work. Understand why you go through depression, why it’s okay to admit that you need help, and how these products can help you.

What You Will Learn

Antidepressants – What are These?

Antidepressants treat* moderate to severe depression. Although these don’t cure* depression itself, it helps stave off the symptoms so that you can better cope with the emotions within you. How are you able to get over the so-called funk you feel when you lack sleep or when you start to panic for no apparent reason.

The depression aid you’re taking can range from any of the following:

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)

There are also other classes of drugs that address this problem such as buprenorphine, tryptophan, low-dose antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, and the organic alternative, St. John’s Wort.

There are those that have taken the alternative approach and have opted for drugs that don’t require a doctor’s prescription. While there are still questions and debates surrounding these options, there are those who swear by it. The list of possible approaches includes psychotherapy, electro-convulsive therapy, acupuncture, sleep therapy exercise, and bright light exposure.

Whatever the case may be, an antidepressant works on your mental health. Though some may come with side effects, doctors urge that you take these under close supervision so that the medical professional can take immediate steps when needed.

Antidepressants – Do They Work?

As stated, antidepressants give your body a boost* of specific chemicals that react with the hormones in you. There are numerous studies surrounding this subject, and the goal of every expert is to find one that comes with the right blend of chemicals. Some have honed in on the serotonin levels and believe that in order for the product to work, it must bring the levels back to normal.

While the meds can increase* or lower serotonin levels within a matter of hours, it takes weeks before it can truly make a difference and handle depression itself. Moreover, the kind of drug prescribed will differ from one person to the next. The doctor may give you the medicine based on the following:

The Type of Depression you are Going Through – If you feel as if you need an energy boost*, then the antidepressant prescribed should stimulate your body. It also works the other way around. If, for instance, you’ve been losing sleep, then you might need one that comes with a sedative effect.

The Side Effects You Need to Consider – Talk to your doctor about your condition and see which brand your body responds to best.

The Medicine that Works best Based on Your Medical History – This is when you discuss your depression and whether or not it runs in your family. Doctors might even consider what worked best for a relative.

The Way The Medicine Interacts with Other Drugs – Give a list of medicines you’re currently taking and see to it these don’t disrupt anything.

Myths and facts about anti-depressants

There are certain myths associated with consumption of anti-depressants that are hugely infamous. Some people believe these baseless facts and avoid treatment altogether making it worse. Let’s see some of those fears and analyze the fact.

Myth: Antidepressants will only make you forget your worries and won’t help to solve them

Fact: Antidepressants will neither make you forget things nor will solve your problems. When you are depressed, you perceive your problems in a much bigger way than they actually are. Antidepressants enhance* your ability to think clearly and approach your problems with clarity. It will remove* the cloud that is blocking your clear view and help you see things as they are. This in turn helps you to deal with the problems in a much efficient way.

Myth: Antidepressants rob your ability to feel and put you in an emotionless state

Fact: Antidepressants are a way to positively stimulate your mind to resume proper functioning and make you feel yourself again. There are rare cases of people feeling emotionless but that might be due to high dosage than required or consuming a specific antidepressant. This can be controlled by reducing* the dosage or trying a different one with proper consulting. In most of the cases, if taken the right quantity, it won’t alter your personality or freeze your emotions.

Myth: Antidepressants make you gain weight

Fact: Every tablet or medication has its own side-effects and so does antidepressants. There are many other medications for various other treatments that cause weight gain. To a certain extent, it is true that antidepressant causes variations on your weight. While some antidepressants make you gain weight, the effect will mostly be temporary. Once you are out of medication, you can always go back to your normal version through diet and exercises

Myth: Antidepressants are for lifetime. Once you start, you can’t stop

Fact: For first timers, one you are on medication in the initial stage, you need to continue medication for a period of six months to nine months. Once your situation is under control, you can consult your doctor and stop medication or gradually decrease* the dosage. The latter is the most advised as getting off of medication abruptly can develop issues like nausea, dizziness and headaches.

Choosing Safe and Effective Antidepressants

You have every right to question the brand that’s recommended to you. See to it that you do make the right kind of investment and consider the following before you shell out cash:

If users highly recommend it.

If it comes with a list of pros and cons.

The ingredients it’s made with.

The possible side effects.

The reviews it has garnered.

Here are the Top Antidepressants

It is made from natural ingredients that replenish the neurotransmitters that you’ve lost. The ingredients include GABA, L-Theanine, Passionflower, Kava kava, Valerian, jujube, skullcap, roman chamomile, griffonia simplicifolia bean extract, and Griffonia beans. It’s produced by Pharmaxa lab, and is relatively affordable compared to other products in the market and is designed to uplift your mood.

It also helps people who is dealing with loss of appetite, unexplainable episodes of anxiety, lack of sleep, increased drowsiness and losing interest in activities that once used to be enjoyable. If you looked through its official website, it’s presented as a non-prescription alternative to the usual brands of medicines.

Many clinical studies have been performed on the ingredients used to develop the drug and successfully proven to be producing positive results. The ingredients work hard to restore the balance of body chemicals that affect your mindset and mood. Clinical studies and positive testimonials were cited in the manufacturer’s website, thus attracting many of its customers.

It’s a non-sedative and an excellent dietary supplement that’s sold for around $34.50 for 60 tablets, a very affordable cost to those looking for a natural alternative with no side effects. However, free trials or samples are not offered for the buyers.

Anti-Anxiety Plus is a potent supplement designed to help users get rid of anxiety. The product is manufactured using high-quality natural ingredients derived from various plants to enable people enjoy life free from anxiety and is 100% natural plant-based supplement.

Anti-Anxiety Plus is made using natural ingredients such as L-Theanine – which stimulates the nervous system, Passionflower that reduces* blood pressure, Valerian which helps to reduce* sleeping disorders and enable better sleep, and Lemon Balm which is an antioxidant which brings the body back to its normal functioning. The use of natural ingredients significantly reduces* the likelihood of any side effects.

Its manufacturer, Vitabalance, is a well-known company in the industry of anxiety supplements. It claims to use clinically proven ingredients to make the most potent anxiety supplement on the market. They also boast to have a state-of-the-art lab for manufacturing high-quality product.

Moreover, if taken in the prescribed dosage, Vitabalance argues that Anti-Anxiety Plus will give positive results almost instantly without any side effects and can be used long-term, thanks to 100% natural ingredients. It also claims to regulate stress and associated high blood pressure. Users can purchase Anti-Anxiety Plus directly from the manufacturer website. The directions to use it are clearly labeled step-by-step.

#3 ReloraMAX

ReloraMAX is a dietary supplement that can help you in calming natural stress and control of weight gain helping you live a healthy life. To some people, after consuming this dietary supplement you may experience reduction* of stress in hours but to others it may take days.
This solution does not cause any lethargic reactions thus makes you happy and calm. This formula can assist in balancing hormones in your body which helps one in preventing abnormal feeding behaviour and increase* in weight due to stress.
It is made by combining natural ingredients among them being phellodendron amurense and magnolia officinalis barks which aid in lowering cortisol known to help in controlling of weight and minimizing nervousness which boosts* your confidence and general mood.

This is an immediate-release tablet for oral administration. It contains the beta polymorph of vortioxetine hydrobromide, an antidepressant. The drug is manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceuticals and H. Lundbeck. It looks like a white component in powder form that is soluble in water.

It works through two mechanisms of action – One is the receptor activity modulation and the other is, reuptake inhibition. Some of the inactive ingredients include magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, mannitol, hydroxypropyl cellulose, sodium starch glycolate and film coating which consists of hypromellose, titanium dioxide, iron oxide red, iron oxide yellow and polyethylene glycol.

It’s an FDA-approved drug that’s known to treat* severe depression. Studies show that those who have taken Brintellix are less likely to suffer from depression once more and is proven to be effective in reducing* major depressive disorder in cases where even the first line drugs had failed.

This serotonin inhibitor comes in different dosages, and the prices are still under approval. Hence, the drug is still not available in generic form and is relatively a newbie in the market. The drug looks promising and effective and is looking to produce some good results. Some of the possible side-effects include headache, dizziness, vomiting, diarrhea and nausea.

Abilify, an aripiprazole, is more of an antipsychotic medication than antidepressant. But it has been proven to have antidepressant properties and is used to treat* depression as well. It is designed to readjust the actions of chemicals found in the brain.

It is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat* the symptoms of psychotic conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and aggression, mood swings, temper tantrums, irritability, self-injury, and other major depressive problems in adults. It is also approved as a complementary medication to treat* depression in addition to antidepressants or if they don’t perform well in certain patients.

It works by making the dopamine receptors work properly instead of shutting them down, as what some antidepressants do. The drug was developed by in Otsuka, Japan by a pharmaceutical company and marketed jointly by Otsuka America and Bristol-Meyers Squibb. The health insurance often covers the drug, but without it, the bottle costs around $250.

It is one of the most popular medication for depression in the United States. Some people have experienced side-effects such as weakness, nausea, constipation, headache, insomnia etc. But these side-effects are temporary during the treatment and does not seem to cause any permanent damage.

It is a natural alternative that relieves anxietyand mood swings. The supplement is made with a 14-ingredient formula that contains a blend of herbal extracts, vitamins, and amino acids and incorporates advanced methods in the fields of herbal medicines, nutition, psychology and neuroscience.

It contains the most popular ingredients found in a variety of medicines. The key ingredients are Passionflower, GABA, Tryptophan, L-Theanine, Ashwagandha (root), vitamin B5, B-Complex Vitamins such as vitamin B1, Brahmi (Bacopa Monnieri), vitamin B6, vitamin B3, green tea extract (leaves), vitamin B12, niacin, gelatin, calcium, and magnesium. This presents itself as an all-in-one solution that comes with Gaba, B-Complex, Ashwagandha, and L-Theanine.

The formula is a proprietary mix of herbal extracts that increases* the production of serotonin in the brain. However, one should be cautious and seek medical advice while taking this medicine if they are taking seizure medicines, MAOI, pain killers, or blood thinners.

The product is a brand name of Tranquility Labs LLC. The monthly supply costs around $34.95 (60 caps in one bottle) and the medicine can only be purchased from the manufacturer’s website. It is not available anywhere else in the market. Also, there are no free samples or trial periods offered on the product.

It is considered to be a safe, all-natural remedy to help calm you while improving** cognition and mental clarity. The supplement starts working within 15 to 20 minutes. But Over time, it even boosts** the natural levels of the neurotransmitters GABA and serotonin in your system so that you stay calm and relaxed every single day.

The key ingredients used are L-Theanine, Passionflower, Magnesium, Ashwagandha, B6, B12, and Calcium. Not all the ingredients are not disclosed by the company but the main ingredients and its purpose are explained well along with studies and tests showing successful results. The purchase comes with a 14-day sample of the product risk-free and a 30-day 100 percent money-back guarantee. It provides natural relief from anxiety and is sold for around #39.95 per bottle.

The A2x website offers reliable and comprehensive explanations and is informative which is always a plus considering the seriousness of such medications. There are no drastic side-effects for this medicine claimed so far but some have experienced mild stomach upset and headaches so the ambiguity is still in the air. It is best to always work with your doctor before trying out any new medication and be aware of side effects.

Joan Raynor is a health researcher and expert writer specializing in mental health issues where she provides hope and support to persons with treatment-resistant depression and other chronic mood disorders.